Tonight’s Arena Football League Matchup: Gladiators (5-5) vs. Grand Rapids Rampage (1-8)

Friday, April 8, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

Last week: Gladiators lost 61-40 at Colorado; Grand Rapids lost 40-27 vs. Nashville.

Key matchup: Gladiators QB Clint Dolezel vs. his former team. Dolezel spent three seasons with the Rampage, winning an Arena Bowl championship there in 2001. This will be his first meeting with the Rampage in Las Vegas since being traded to the Gladiators in 2004. Last season he threw for 222 yards and five touchdowns to lead the gladiators to a 51-14 victory at Grand Rapids.

Notes: Gladiators offensive specialist Marcus Nash has more than 100 yards receiving in each of his past four games. He leads the AFL in receiving yards (1,243) and scoring (174 points) and is second in receptions (86). ... The Glaldiators are 2-9 all-time in Friday games. ... This will be a homecoming for OL/DL Hardy Mitchell, who will play in Las Vegas for the first time since the Gladiators sent him to Grand Rapids as part of the Dolezel trade. ... Nine players have caught touchdown passes for the Gladiators, one short of the franchise record set in 2002. ... The Gladiators have given up 60 or more points in the past three games. ... The Gladiators are on a three-game home losing streak.

Next week: Gladiators at Philadelphia (Sunday), Rampgage at Georgia (Friday).